Coleman cruises to state semifinals

Statesmen making third trip to Glens Falls since 2010

NEW PALTZ — John A. Coleman Catholic's Micah Simmons-Smalls couldn't help himself. Fresh off a win over Long Island's Shelter Island on Saturday, he began daydreaming about the next destination, the next big game.

NEW PALTZ — John A. Coleman Catholic's Micah Simmons-Smalls couldn't help himself. Fresh off a win over Long Island's Shelter Island on Saturday, he began daydreaming about the next destination, the next big game.

Glens Falls awaits Coleman Catholic after a 73-46 demolition of Shelter Island in the Class D state boys' basketball tournament quarterfinals at SUNY New Paltz.

"I've never been up there," said Simmons, a guard, with teammates and fans celebrating around him on the court. "I can't wait to see what the court is like, how big it is, what the fans are like. This is an amazing accomplishment, a dream come true. We can't wait."

Let the anticipation begin.

Coleman Catholic (16-4) meets Sherman of Buffalo in the Class D state semifinals at 10 a.m. on Friday at the famed Glens Falls Civic Center. Moriah and New York Mills play in the other semifinal at 11:45 a.m. with the winners playing for the state championship at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Coleman Catholic's third trip to Glens Falls since 2010 seemed booked by halftime. The Statesmen led Shelter Island (12-11) 35-19 at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run. For all of Coleman Catholic's postseason success — it's playing in the state tournament for the seventh time in eight years — this might have been one of the most complete efforts by the Section 9 power in a big game.

Guard Kevin Davis scored a career-high 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and Dino Celadon and Simmons added 18 apiece. Doug Terrone put up 14 for Coleman Catholic. Meanwhile, Coleman Catholic held Shelter Island's best player, sophomore center Tristan Wissemann, to eight points. Wissemann came into the game averaging 20 points, but picked up three fouls in the second quarter.

"To do something like this is a pretty great feeling," Davis said. "That's what everyone talks about, Glens Falls. It's a tribute to this team and our coaches. I think if we keep practicing, if we keep our mental and physical game, we can do pretty well up there."

Coleman Catholic lost in the Class D state championship in each of its last two trips to Glens Falls. Maple Grove put away the Statesmen 43-38 in 2010 and New York Mills defeated Coleman Catholic 47-42 a year later.

"This is an amazing accomplishment," Celadon said. "I'm very proud and, hopefully, we can win a state championship. It feels good, but we want to do more than get to Glens Falls. This team knows what it wants and we want to do more than just get to Glens Falls."